George Golla, Leonie Smith - Never The Less

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:09
Size: 73.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:26] 1. Blue Skies
[3:47] 2. East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon
[2:49] 3. I Can't Get Started With You
[4:57] 4. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
[2:47] 5. All The Things You Are
[4:17] 6. The Gentle Rain
[2:46] 7. Love Walked In
[4:10] 8. More Than You Know
[4:04] 9. On The Street Where You Live

George Golla and myself met up for the first time during the recording of my first Album “Sweet Jazz” in 2003. George was called in at the last moment to complete the album after a few tracks previously recorded were ditched. We recorded five songs in about 45 minutes, and out of all the songs on “Sweet Jazz” the four tunes eventually added to the Album proved the most popular for radio play and download.

George and I decided we would love to record together again for purely selfish reasons... because we like to play music together, and to have something to keep of our time together. For my own part, George is now a great friend and mentor, and we enjoy each others company, also outside music, and for me it’s the best fun I ever have musically and socially. Those that know George personally, know that he is a wonderful raconteur, and joke teller, as well as being a wonderful guitarist. Our collaborations are always fun in fact he has me laughing on the floor often! (not a good look in a sparkly gown I assure you).

We recorded our new Album now entitled “Never the Less” (named after a punch-line of one of George’s fine anecdotes) one May 2006 night in John Morrison’s home Studio, on 2 tracks Live, with only two 2nd takes, in about 2 hours, including chatting, laughing with John and various anecdotes being recounted. In recording, I wanted an honest portrayal of our live performances, and it was a huge leap of faith on my part, as I tend to want to fiddle with the vocals and am never really happy with them. But I figured that if I can’t live with them, I shouldn’t be singing live! Of course I think George with his experience as an accompanists of many vocalists in the past and his collaboration with Don Burrows is the most supportive accompanist you could have, and he really made it very easy for me as he always does. I’m sure he is telepathic !!

Never The Less

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George Golla & Leonie Smith - Never The Less

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 32:08
Size: 73.6 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:26] 1. Blue Skies
[3:47] 2. East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon
[2:49] 3. I Can't Get Started With You
[4:57] 4. E'vry Time We Say Goodbye
[2:47] 5. All The Things You Are
[4:17] 6. The Gentle Rain
[2:46] 7. Love Walked In
[4:10] 8. More Than You Know
[4:04] 9. On The Street Where You Live

“George Golla and I met during the recording of my first album “Sweet Jazz” in 2003, and the four tunes in duo with George soon proved the most popular. George and I then toured to Burnie, Tasmania, once in 2004 and again in 2005. At the Manly Jazz Festival in 2004 we worked as a duo and as part of the “Legends in Jazz”, a line-up of George on guitar, Errol Buddle on sax, Cliff Barnes on double bass and Cyril Bevin on drums. We opened the Noosa Jazz Festival, together with Matt Thompson on piano and Paul Furniss on reeds.

George and I have decided to record together again for purely selfish reasons... because we like to play music together, and to have something permanent to keep of our time together. Because I wanted an honest portrayal of our live performances, our new album “Never the Less” (named after the punch-line in one of George's fine anecdotes) was recorded live in John Morrison's home studio and it was made very easy for me because of George’s vast experience as an accompanist and his collaboration with Don Burrows.

This album is self-produced and self-released and only digital copies will be available for download from the usual In-ternet sites. I am manufacturing sample CDs for airplay and promotion only. This is something of an experiment and came about because the cost of producing an album on CD is very expensive for the independent artist, and the with imminent demise of the shop-front CD store Digital is certainly the way of the future and more economical. The Internet is now providing a much bigger audience for our music.

I hope you enjoy this example of our music, as much as we enjoyed recording it.” Regards Leonie Smith

Never The Less

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Leonie Smith - Sweet Jazz

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:44
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. Angel Eyes
(4:30)  2. Nature Boy
(3:04)  3. Dream a Little Dream of Me
(3:30)  4. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(3:20)  5. Blue Moon
(3:04)  6. Autumn Leaves
(3:11)  7. Our Love Is Here to Stay
(4:33)  8. Easy Living
(3:37)  9. Ain't Misbehavin'/You Took Advantage of Me
(2:31) 10. Love Me or Leave Me
(2:31) 11. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key
(5:12) 12. Since I Fell for You

Inspired by the world of Jazz, Leonie performs with an elegance and style reminiscent of the old-style torch singers.
Leonie sets a sultry mood. Sometimes soulful and emotive, sometimes light and humorous. Always a magnetic presence.

Her versatility allows for changes in ambience and tempo from swinging dance music, to quieter music for cocktails or dinner. Her songs encompass the longing ballads of Billie Holiday, popular songs of Cole Porter and George Gershwin, and the Jazz standards of Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, Rogers and Hart, and many other great Jazz composers.

Leonie Smith is an Australian jazz Vocalist, with a smooth sophisticated style, who has been working as a singer for over 10 years in Jazz Clubs, Restaurants, Function Centers and for Corporate Events.
Leonie's early experience was gained through live performances at Kate Dunbar's open mike sessions and with the Freddy Willson Jazz workshops and it was not long before she was singing regularly at the Rocks Markets on Sydney Harbour, with her band The Cats Whiskers, and at other venues around town. These gigs developed into nights at premier jazz venues The Basement and Soup Plus in Sydney, as well as five star hotels and resorts. With the support of some of the venues, which gave her residencies (permanent bookings), she was able to perform with some of the finest musicians this country has to offer, including Bobby Gebbert, Peter Zog, John Morrison, Matt Baker, Michael Bartolomi.

For a change of pace, In 1994 Leonie joined the very popular Andrew Sisters Sisters - a tribute group to the famous wartime entertainers. The group won a Mo award in her first year with them and were nominated again in the second year. Leonie performed the role of Patty: "She was the blonde, cheeky one who got to flirt with the audience, usually perched on some man's lap. I had a ball! The wigs and the costumes meant we could get away with things we would never normally attempt and no one recognised us afterwards. I loved it.''

Performing with the tribute group meant that Leonie also had to master very tight harmonies and dance choreography and the Andrew Sisters Sisters shows appeared at clubs, function centres for corporate events, the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, and many other venues. "It was great to be able to really ham it up and it was wonderful to work with some other women for a change''. In 2003 Leonie recorded her Debut Album entitled "Sweet Jazz" with John Morrison and Kerrie Biddel co-producing. Musicians on the Album include George Golla Guitar, Matt Baker Piano, Stan Valacos Bass, Julian Gough on Sax and John Morrison on Drums. In 2005 Leonie Joined Sydney Jazz Station FM 99.3 Northside Rythm and Jazz in Chatswood as co-presenter of Jazz at 5 on Fri Afternoons.

As a Jazz vocalist, Leonie Smith either performs as part of a duo, with a Pianist or a Guitarist, or with a band of up to 5 musicians, including Piano, Guitar, Saxophone, Bass, and Drums. She can provide any combination, in accord with your venue or events requirements. The musicians Leonie employs play regularly with her, and are highly regarded professionals within the Sydney Jazz scene. http://www.jazz.org.au/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=207&Itemid=84

Sweet Jazz

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